"Gold Ship, do you really want to debut now? Orfevre will be entering her Senior Year next year and Tokai Teio will be debuting soon too. Your future racing career will be incredibly challenging."
"Hehe, Old Man, you make it sound like I care about those big titles. For me, the most important thing is having fun~!"
Some time later, in a garden in the hospital, Imanami and Gold Ship were taking a stroll together.
With Gold Ship's height of 170 cm, because Imanami was no longer an elder, but a young man, the way they walked shoulder to shoulder didn't look like an old man with his granddaughter, but rather a young man with his Uma Musume girlfriend.
However, despite how they might look, the atmosphere between them was nothing like a doting couple.
On Imanami's incompatibly young face, was only the loving affection of a grandpa for his grandchild, while Gold Ship never showed a hint of shyness, only a carefree smile of a granddaughter.
"Although, it's a real shame I can't interact with Orfevre-nee at all this year... Heh, actually, you know what? It's probably a good thing~ Gold Ship-sama would've totally stole the spotlight~"
"By the way, Old Man, though I know that T.M. Opera O will be going to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe this year. If Orfevre-nee actually manages to win the Classic Triple Crowns, another invitation to the l'Arc should still be sent, right?"
"Well… not necessarily."
Imanami smiled and shook his head.
"Paris has never sent us invitations for two consecutive years. After all, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is not a race that we are even qualified to participate in each year."
"However... considering it's Orfevre, maybe fate will favour her?"
"Not maybe, d.e.f.i.n.i.t.e.l.y! Even if the Three Goddesses were the ones who pick who gets an invitation, Orfevre-nee will absolutely be one of those who get selected!"
Gold Ship spoke extremely confidently, even giving people the illusion that 'she was one of the Three Goddesses herself' due to the certainty in her voice.
What's even more bizarre is that even if it were revealed one day that Gold Ship was actually an incarnation of one of the Three Goddesses, no one would probably even bat an eye...
Gold Ship was simply such a person; even if an absurd fact about her gets revealed, it wouldn't feel weird one bit.
Even Imanami, with how steady and down to earth he was, was affected by this phenomenon.
"But we can't rely on the Three Goddesses for everything, Old Man. Plus, this is a great opportunity to raise McQueen's favourability level! Let the all mighty Gold Ship handle this!"
Gold Ship puffed out her surprisingly well endowed chest and said haughtily,
"This is definitely a key plot line in a Galgame. If only there was a save function... Unfortunately our world doesn't have one, we don't even get three daily alarm clocks and one free retry!"
"Sigh... so, we can only seize the present."
"...The more you talk, the less and less I understand, but I get what you mean."
While Gold Ship's breaking of the fourth wall was incomprehensible to Imanami, he still managed to follow and generally understand her peculiar thought process.
"McQueen probably does need more encouragement, but I don't think you simply racing will be enough to completely cheer McQueen back up."
"Hmph! Do not worry! The omniscient Gold Ship has already made a plan!"
Gold Ship did not elaborate on what she had planned, merely standing there with her hands on her hips, radiating confidence.
"Old Man, you just need to sign me up for the race. It's in about two to three days, right? I'll need to rush to the Nakayama Racecourse pronto."
"Hmm, in that case, I'll tell Teio to take care of McQueen for now."
Gold Ship nodded slightly upon hearing this; however, Imanami's wording made her pause the moment she realized something.
"Huh...? Old Man, shouldn't you be staying with McQueen? This is a great opportunity to increase McQueen's favorability, you know~"
"A GIII race is easy peasy for me. You don't have to worry about me. It's better for you to just stay here and keep McQueen company."
"What are you talking about, Gold Ship? What kind of Trainer am I if I don't show up when my assigned Uma Musume is racing?"
Imanami was somewhat amused by Gold Ship's words, reaching out to wring Gold Ship's ear.
However, his fingers didn't apply any force, and this act of 'punishment' turned into more of a playful gesture.
"I have not, and do not plan to miss a single one of McQueen's races. Same goes for you, and the same for Teio in the future. This will never change."
"I'll call President Rudolf now and ask her to help us register for the race. I'm sure that once she hears you want to debut, she will do everything in her power to secure a spot for us."
After all, this was Gold Ship! GOLD SHIP! Even the Emperor would probably be interested to see Gold Ship actually race to see how strong this troublemaker, who had mostly lazed around and caused chaos in Tracen Academy, really was.
...
Meanwhile, at Tracen Academy, inside the Student Council office, Symboli Rudolf was currently sipping on some coffee Air Groove brewed while reading the newspaper in her hand.
—The headline, in bold, was of course about the unfortunate incident at the Hanshin Daishoten, with Mejiro McQueen's portrait being smacked dab at the front page.
"'Foul at the Hanshin Daishoten, no hope for Mejiro McQueen in the Spring Tenno Sho'... should I say, as expected of the media?"
"Making such a slanderous headline... are they not afraid the Mejiro Family might retaliate?"
"President, big families these days have to care about their reputation, otherwise, it might look like the big guys are trying to silence the small ones."
Air Groove said calmly, pouring a new cup of coffee for Symboli Rudolf after she just finished drinking the one in her hand.
"The media's backing also does not have any connection to the URA, so they can't regulate what they write."
"...Sigh, this incident must've hit McQueen hard. Her first victory in a long while, snatched from her hands just like that, it's no wonder she fainted directly."
"Speaking of which, President, the Mejiro sisters have all requested for outside stay in Hanshin, I have approved their request."
Air Groove returned the coffee pot into the coffee machine and sat on a nearby sofa.
"However, what the media says is correct. After the Hanshin Daishoten, it will truly be difficult for McQueen to challenge the Spring Tenno Sho."
"I know, Trainer Wada and Ikezoe have already both called for my help so that McQueen can participate in the Spring Tenno Sho."
Symboli Rudolf nodded, folding and placing down the newspaper back on the table as she leaned back on her chair.
"I've already got in contact with several Trainers whose participating Uma Musume's conditions are concerning. If nothing unexpected happens, McQueen should be able to participate in the Spring Tenno Sho."
"—Of course, being assigned to the outermost lane is a given. We can only hope McQueen herself can seize this opportunity well."
"...I'm more worried about how she's doing. I'm not sure if she can recover from this setback before the Tenno Sho."
Air Groove shook her head, speaking with a touch of sadness.
Symboli Rudolf didn't answer, but it was clear she was also worried about the same issue.
Beep, beep, beep.
Suddenly, the phone to the Student Council office rang.
Symboli Rudolf picked the phone up without hesitation and quickly returned to her 'Student Council President mode'.
"Hello, this is the Student Council office, how may I hel— Trainer Imanami? It's quite rare for you to call me."
"If you are asking about McQueen's Spring Tenno Sho, I'll do my best, I just hope McQueen... What? Register for another race?"
"Yes."
On the other end of the line, Imanami nodded to confirm.
"I want to register for the GIII Flower Cup at the Nakayama Racecourse later this month."
"...With all due respect, Trainer Imanami, I understand that you wish for your team to dominate March, but given McQueen's current condition, I don't believe she is stable enough for another race."
Symboli Rudolf's expression turned serious the moment she heard Imanami's request, her familiar tone being replaced with that of the exemplary of formalness.
"She needs rest. Even a GIII race shouldn't be taken lightly. Moreover, URA regulations stipulate that an Uma Musume needs at least half a month worth of rest after a race, regardless of its grade."
"Huh? Oh, no, no, no. It's not for McQueen, it's for Gold Ship."
"Hm? I see, it's for Gold Ship..."
Hearing that Imanami wasn't trying to force McQueen into another race, Rudolf quickly relaxed.
However, the moment her brain processed the second half of Imanami's sentence, Rudolf's entire body instantly froze.
After a long period of silence, Imanami, not having received a reply, asked again,
"President Rudolf? Are you still there?"
"...My apologies, Trainer Imanami, I must've not gotten enough sleep last night, and my attention has slackened."
"Could you please repeat just... who is participating in the race?"
"It's... Gold Ship."
Imanami honestly replied again, which caused another long period of silence to ensue.
After a while, Symboli Rudolf's shaking voice came through the phone again.
"...Is this some kind of early April Fool's joke? Or are you being forced to say this by the Gold family to prank Gold Ship?"
"No, it's real."
Imanami said, sounding equally as astonished.
"I know it's hard to believe, but Gold Ship herself genuinely wants to debut right now."
"...Understood. I'll take care of it."
Symboli Rudolf silently hung up the phone, then fully leaned back into her chair.
Air Groove, noticing Symboli Rudolf's change in mood, couldn't help but ask with concern.
"What's wrong President? Who was it that called just now?"
"...Air Groove, can you change my entry on the 'Student Council President greatest achievements board?'"
"Huh?"
"Help me change it to this. Write... 'Under the management of the seventh Student Council President of Tracen Academy, Symboli Rudolf, the student, Gold Ship has decided to debut and participate in her first race.'"
This was the single greatest achievement she will ever have in her tenure as Student Council President, and will surely have praises sung about it for many years to come.
An Undefeated Classic Triple Crown could always pop up in the future, but having Gold Ship debut— that was an unreplicable feat!
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GOLD SHIP SWEEEEEPPPP!!!!
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.